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Palm Centre – Plant of the Month       DECEMBER 2014

Billbergia is just one genus within the large family of striking tropical plants belong to Bromeliaceae. The members of Bromeliaceae family called Bromeliads. There are more than 2000 species of bromeliads, all from the New World tropics and subtropics. These plants are tropical, not able to withstand hard frozen winter; however, some are often reported as tolerating light freezes into the -10 °C and bouncing right back.

Billbergia nutans is native to Paraguay, Uruguay, southern Brazil and northern Argentina. It grows on trees and on rocks or the ground in subtropical forests. Genius name comes from Gustav J. Billberg, 19th century Swedish botanist and nutans refer to pendant flower. It is called Queen's Tears, the link to royalty may be the rich pink and purple on the magnificent blooms. The tears are drops of nectar that form on the flowers. Another English name for Billbergia nutans is Friendship Plant. That's a reference to the prolific "pupping" of the plants, and the ease with which owners can pass those to the friends.           

Queen's Tears is an epiphytic bromeliad with tough grasslike leaves arranged in a narrow funnel shaped rosette. Each rosette has 12 to 15 strap shaped grayish green leaves that may be flushed with red or bronze. Leaf margins are usually finely toothed and the tip is pointed. In spring, the rosette gives birth to an arching flower stalk that bears a remarkable inflorescence that has been likened to a bird of paradise. The leaves form a natural vase or funnel at the center. In the wild, this vase catches rainwater and droppings old leaves of trees. When Billbergia nutans blooms, a spike emerges from the center of the rosette. It gets longer, bends earthward, and blossoms into the complex and colorful flower with pink tube and reflexed, purple-edged, yellow-green tepals. When a mother plant blooms, that particular rosette then enters a phase of growing offshoots. The plant ultimately reach 40-50 cm height and 40-50 cm wide.

Queen's Tears are among to carefree bromeliads and probably one of the most cold hardy. One report says it withstands -14 °C. Can be grown outdoors as an epiphyte or in humus-rich, sharply drained soil in frost-free location. Under glass grow as an epiphyte or in epiphytic bromeliad compost in bright indirect light. Keep the centre funnel filled with fresh water. 

Propagation of Billbergia nutans is done by seed or by removing pups. Pups can be separated from mature plants, cut the pup off, and remove a bottom leaf or two to expose stem for rooting. For continued flowering, the plant needs to grow new pups. Queen's Tears are almost orchid-like in their need for a well drained root zone. They can be mounted on wood or bark, or planted in coarse potting mix. Bromeliads get their moisture and nutrients not from roots, but from rain and debris that fall from above into the funnel-like rosettes. Billbergia nutans does best in a humid environment with water constantly in its rosettes. Also as a subtropical epiphytic bromeliad, it is surprisingly tolerant of drought. Indoor bromeliads benefit from occasional misting. It prefers dappled shade, reasonable overhead shelter from a canopy of larger plants and a well drained, humus-rich, slightly acidic soil. Keep moist in the summer, although they don't need huge amounts of water as they have a small root system.

Use in Landscape: Queen's Tears, the easiest of all bromeliads, can be grown indoors in a pot or on a "bromeliad tree", which might be a piece of driftwood with bromeliads attached in several places. Set the tree outside under a real tree in summer. In zones 8 and above, grow Billbergia nutans outdoors in beds, borders, containers, or epiphytically on a tree or post. As a ground cover, it spreads fairly quickly to cover partly shady corners and areas under large trees.

Palm Centre – Plant of the Month       november 2014

Cycads are a group of plants that can trace their origins back 200-300 hundreds of years. Although it would be incorrect to say that they are unchanged from those times, they do still retain characteristics and appereance of old ancestors as seen in fossiles. There are around 200 species of cycads, warm parts of the world.

Dioon spinulosum is a cycad, belong to Zamiaceae family and dioon genus. It is one of the tallest cycads in the world also the largest American cycad. It can be grown up to 15 m in height and 30 cm diameter trunk. The giant dioon is endemik to limestone cliffs and rocky hillsides in the evergreen tropical rainforests in Mexico (Oaxaca, Veracruz, Yucatan) up to 450 m above sea level. The genus name Dioon comes from the Greek, meaning "two eggs", because the seeds are borne in pairs. The species name of spinulosum is derived from the Latin, meaning spiny.

Giant Dioon has shiny, stiff, bright green leaves that grow in an upright manner.  Its pinnate (feather shaped) leaves are 150-200 cm long and extend radially out from the trunk. Each leaf carry 150-250 leaflets on. These leaflets are flat, with small marginal thorns tapering to a sharp point.

Dioon spinulosum is dioecious like all cycads, male and female plants needed to produce viable seeds. The female cones are 30 cm or more in length and covered with a dense wool. Seeds are cream to white colored, oval shaped and approximately 4-5 cm long and 2-3 cm wide.

Giant Dioon prefers a subtropical or tropical climate, and partial shade or filtered sun. Mature and established plants have been reported to tolerate temperatures down to -4ºC for short time periods, without incurring significant foliage damage. It handles moisture and humidity better than most cycads, but must be kept in well-draining soil like nearly all cycads. Although tolerant of poor soils, the giant dioons growth can be greatly improved through the application of fertilizers.

In cultivation, Dioon spinulosum is one of the most trouble free cycads. Seedlings grow rapidly and in the span of a few years can become sizeable plants. Plants do better if placed in a somewhat shady location with dampness at the roots at all times. Giant Dioon has few pest problems. Occasionally, infestations of mealybugs or scale insects occur but generally only when the plant is in a stressed condition.

Dioon spinulosum may be propagated by seeds or by division and replanting of the offsets formed at the base of the plant. The leaves of the plant are used in decorations and floral arrangements.

Use in landscape: A single large Giant Dioon can be an excellent feature plant in a tropical or desert landscape, in any garden in warm temperate to tropical climates. Often substituting for a true palm where a large crown is desired without a tall trunk. Dioon spinulosum can also have a spectacular place in a small garden where space is limited. It also makes an exotic striking understory plant beneath large trees or any structure that allows at least partial sunlight to pass through.

A striking approach is to follow, with large paired plants in containers or feature beds that flank driveways, doorways or gates. Giant Dioon is also wonderful as a tub plant in a brightly lit spot in the home, on a porch or deck, or in a conservatory.

Palm Centre – Plant of the Month       october 2014

Cycads are a group of plants that can trace their origins back 200-300 hundreds of years. Although it would be incorrect to say that they are unchanged from those times, they do still retain characteristics and appereance of old ancestors as seen in fossiles. There are around 200 species of cycads, warm parts of the world.

CYCAS TAITUNGENSIS - TAIWAN SAGO - EMPEROR SAGO

Cycas taitungensis is belong to Cycadaceae family and a species of genus Cycas. It is native to Taitung County, south-eastern Taiwan. This species used to be widely known under the incorrect name Cycas taiwaniana, until it was properly described in 1994. Cycas taitungensis is one of the hardiest of the cycads. Native to a tiny area of Taiwan growing on rocky slopes, it is known as the Taiwan Sago Palm or Emperor Sago.

Emperor Sago was listed by the IUCN “Red List of Threatened Plants” in category "vulnerable" in 1997. The extent of occurrence is 65 km², the species is known from two locations and there is continuing decline in mature individuals due to invasion by Aulacaspis scale. So Cycas taitungensis warranted classification as "endangered" in 2010.

Emperor Sago is an evergreen tree with circular shape and leaves growing on top. It can grow up to about 5 m tall with a trunk to about 35 cm across. It may be superficially similar in form to the Cycas revoluta (Sago Palm), however Cycas taitungensis is a more vigorous grower than that, has leaflets that are longer, broader and flatter than its famous cousin. Female cones also tend to be more tightly imbricate and cabbage like, and seeds are darker in colour.

Emperor Sago is said to be the fastest grower of all the cycads. Also very cold tolerant, able to survive temperatures as low as -10 °C, grows well in full sun as well as partial shade. Leaves are deep green, semiglossy, 100-180 cm long, with 150-170 leaflets, with orange tomentum shedding as leaf expands, rachis usually terminated by a spine. The tree is dioecious. Male strobili is in fusiform shape, yellow, 40-50 cm long, and has triangle top, while female strobili is oval 20-30 cm long and has long, narrow red crevices on its megasporophyll. The seed of the tree is in oval or long circular shape, and turns rusty color when reaching maturity.

Cycas taitungensis can produce several flushes of leaves per year, it is much more than the common Cycas revoluta. Once a trunk forms, each flush of leaves adds some height, so trunked individuals are produced much sooner than with the Sago Palm. Emperor Sago is featured by fire-resistance, warmth-oriented, coldness-resistance, and it must be bathed in sunlight.

Propagation is done by seed. Although it is written in some books that it can be produced “dividing corms, bulbs or offsets”, we have not seen any offsets at our experience. Mealy bug and scale may trouble this plant. Control can be time consuming, but systemic insecticides work well. Aulacaspis yasumatsui is a scale insect and a pest towards Cycads, able to destroy the plant.

USE IN LANDSCAPE: Cycas taitungensis is going to be one of the most popular cycads in cultivation, in both temperate and tropical locations. Although at the moment, it is not known by many, because it is hard to get it in market. The seeds came to market first in 2000, Palmiye Merkezi is one of the first brought the seeds to Europea. We produce seed from our own seed grown parents in 2002, now this plant is two years old, as seen at photo. Emperor Sago can be used in rows, in groups or solitary, also it fits for pot culture.

Palm Centre – Plant of the Month       SEPTEMBER 2014

Cycads are a group of plants that can trace their origins back 200-300 hundreds of years. Although it would be incorrect to say that they are unchanged from those times, they do still retain characteristics and appereance of old ancestors as seen in fossiles.

CYCAS REVOLUTA (SAGO PALM, KING SAGO, JAPANESE SAGO PALM),

Cycas revoluta though often known by the common name of Sago Palm, it is not a true palm, but a member of the Cycadaceae family. The Latin specific epithet revoluta means "curled back", in reference to the leaves. Cycas revoluta, is an attractive plant native to southern Japanese islands including Kyushu, and Ryukyu. It is one of several species used for the production of sago, as well as an ornamental plant. Tolerates some salt in soil.

Sago Palm is a gymnosperm plant, such as cycads, ginkgo, yews and conifers. One of most interesting finding, both Ginkgo and Cycas revoluta have moving sperms like in animals and also they bear hem in their juices which is a protein found in erythrocytes in animals.

Sago Palm is one of the most widely cultivated cycads, grown outdoors in warm temperate and subtropical regions, or under glass in colder areas. It grows best in sandy, well-drained soil, preferably with some organic matter. It needs good drainage otherwise it may rot. It is drought tolerant and grows well in full sun or outdoor shade, but needs a lot of light when grown indoors.

Cycas revoluta is very symmetrical plant supports a crown of shiny, dark green leaves on a thick shaggy trunk that is typically about 20 cm in diameter, sometimes wider. The trunk is very low to subterranean in young plants, but lengthens above ground with age. Trunk can grow up to 600–700 m in cultivation in 100s of years time. Sometimes trunks can branch multiple times, thus producing multiple heads of leaves. The leaves are deep semiglossy green and about 50–100 cm long when the plants are of a reproductive age. The crowded, stiff, narrow leaflets are 8–18 cm long and have strongly recurved or revolute edges. The basal leaflets become more like spines. Plants produce suckers at the base and offsets along the trunk, sometimes prolifically, and these often give the plant the appearance of a clump.

New leaves are very soft and emerge from the crown of the plant. In young specimens they are often only produced in small numbers but once older and more settled a new 'flush' of 30-60 leaves comes at a time. These unfurl quite rapidly, until they have fully unfurled and 'hardened off' they remain extremely delicate and easily damaged.

Sago Palms roots are called coralloid with an Anabaena (is a genus of filamentous cyanobacteria that exists as plankton). It is known for its nitrogen fixing abilities, and they form symbiotic relationships with certain plants like cycads allowing nitrogen fixation.

Cycas revoluta, is dioecious as all other cycads, males bear pollen cones and the females bear groups of megasporophylls. Pollination can be done naturally by insects or artificially. Frost damage can occur at temperatures below −10 °C It does, however, require hot summers with mean high temperatures of 25 to 35 °C for successful growth.

Propagation By dividing corms, bulbs or offsets and from seed. Mealy bug and scale may trouble this plant. Control can be time consuming, but systemic insecticides work well. Aulacaspis yasumatsui is a scale insect and a pest towards Sago Palm, able to destroy the plant.

USE IN LANDSCAPE: Sago Palm is one of the most popular plants in cultivation. It is seen in almost all botanical gardens, in both temperate and tropical locations. In many areas of the world, it is heavily promoted commercially as a landscape plant. It can be used in rows, in groups or solitary, also it fits for pot culture.

Genus Lonicera is belong to Caprifoliaceae Family. Members of this family can be deciduous and evergreen shrubs, or climbers with twining stems. The genus name Lonicera comes from Adam Lonitzer, a 16th C German herbalist. There are about 180 species of Lonicera found mostly in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. The tubular or two-lipped flowers, up to 5 cm in length, followed by red or black berries. Flowers are often very fragrant.

Lonicera sempervirens is native to the eastern, midwest and southern regions of the U.S. This vine is evergreen in the frost free climates, hence the species name of sempervirens (meaning evergreen in Latin). Unlike its Asian cousins (like Lonicera japonica), this semi-deciduous, woody vine is not an invasive plant and will settle in to a small garden.

Coral Honeysuckle is a vigorous, deciduous, twining vine which typically grows 3-5 m long and is one of the showiest of the vining honeysuckles. It is a twining woody vine, usually climbing on other vegetation but sometimes trailing along the ground. Old stems have papery brown exfoliating bark. Large, non-fragrant, narrow, trumpet shaped flowers are 2-5 cm long, red or orange-red on the outside and yellowish inside. Flowers of Lonicera sempervirens appear in late spring at stem ends in clusters. Flowers give way to small red berries which mature in autumn and are attractive to birds. Most varieties bloom in early spring with a flush of deep coral trumpets and continue throughout the summer and autumn with smaller displays. Bluish-green leaves are oval in shape and glaucous beneath.

Coral Honeysuckle is an excellent garden plant. It prefers well-drained acid or near neutral soil. Full sun with supporting structure such as a fence or trellis will yield the best floral display. Plant can grow in shade, but fewer flowers will be seen. If needed, pruning should follow the main flush of spring flowers, minimizing the risk of removing budded flower stems.

Lonicera sempervirens is easily propagated by softwood cuttings taken in late spring or summer. To propagate by seed, fruit pulp should be removed, followed by three months of cold stratification. Several named cultivars exist. These are long-lived perennial vines that can be enjoyed for generations. It is a frost hardy plant stands up to -28°C. They have few pests and are tolerant of varied climates and conditions. No serious insect or disease problems.

Use in landscape: Coral Honeysuckle Best grown on trellises, fences, arbors or pergolas, may be used at flower borders and beds. It is one of the selected plant, for wall-side borders at city and courtyard gardens.

Genus Agave is composed of 250 species that occur in the arid western USA, Mexico, Central America and the West Indies. All species share thick, meaty, succulent-type spiny-edged leaves leaves which are produced in the form of rosettes.  Most agaves are monocarpic succulents (they flower once and then die). They have funnel-shaped flowers in racemes or panicles often much taller than the rosettes.

Agave americana is belong to Asparagaceae family and Agavaceae genus. Naturally found in Texas and Mexican highlands. It also has escaped cultivation and become established in the Mediterranean region of Africa and Europe. This plant, also called American Aloe, is neither an aloe nor a cactus, as it is sometimes erroneously believed.

Century Plant is an evergreen perennial,  although it is called Century Plant doesn't really take a century to bloom, it bloom between the age of 10-60 years, depends of the climate (in warm regions grows fast and flower quicker then the cold climates). Agave americana has no stem, its thick and massive gray-blue to blu-green leaves originate from a basal rosette, often grows as tall as 200 cm high, spread to 300-400 cm.
The leaves get up to 180-200 cm long and 25 cm wide, and have sharp spines on the margins and tips. The margin spines are recurved like fishhooks and the tip spines can be more than three cm long, older leaves often gracefully arch down.

Century Plant flowers never before 10 years old, but up to 60 years. Plant uses all its reserves to produce a magnificent asparagus like stalk, emerging from center of plant, up to 800 cm tall. It dies after blooming (a condition called monocarpic), but produces offsets throughout its life. Panicles to 800 cm in length, of greenish-yellow flowers 8 cm in length, are produced only by old plants and ones in their lifespan.

Like most agaves, Agave americana needs full sun and well drained soil to thrive. It is extremely drought and heat tolerant and moderately slow-growing. Supplemental water in dry summer months will make it grow faster, but care must be taken not to overwater, especially in clay soils. It is hardy to about -10°C. Propagation can be done by offsets or by seed.

Several variegated forms of Century Plant are in cultivation. Popular cultivars are 'Marginata' with yellow margins on the leaves, 'Mediopicta' with a broad yellow band down the center of each leaf, and 'Striata' with stripes. There is also another variety, similar to Mediopicta but white band instead of yellow and called ‘A.americana mediopicta alba’.

Use in landscape: Agave americana’s are often used for fencing in Mexico and Central America. A dense hedge of these spiny succulents is impermeable to cattle and people. As an ornamental, Century Plant usually is grown in rock gardens, in cactus and succulent gardens, in Mediterranean style landscapes, in borders, as a specimen or accent plant. It tends to dominate the landscape wherever it is grown. Agave americana also is grown in containers where it stays much smaller than its outdoor sisters.

Local use: The sap of century plant is used by natives as a diuretic and a laxative. The juice of the leaves is applied to bruises and taken internally for indigestion, flatulence, constipation, jaundice and dysentery. To make textiles, Century Plant fibers must be obtained by processing the leaves. After cooking the leaves in an oven, they are used as food or scraped over a pounding slab to obtain long threads to make ropes or to spin to weave textiles.

The flower stalk and heart of century plant are sweet and can be roasted and eaten. Mescal is an alcolic drink made by distilling fire-roasted agave. To produce mescal, the ripe Agave americana plants are cut down and the leaves removed. The core, or head of the plant is then baked into earth ovens. Once the agave core is cooked, it is ground to extract the juice. The juice is then put into containers and let there to ferment. When the fermentation is complete, ethanol is separated from the non-volatile elements through distillation to obtain the pure mescal.

Palm Centre – Plant of the Month         APRİL 2014

Palm Centre – Plant of the Month         MARCH 2014